My coworker recently retired, and we typically celebrate their last day with a goodbye lunch. This time, my coworker chose Japanese food from Kokoro Tei. Since it's a takeout only restaurant, the ordering process was straightforward by placing our order directly through their website. We ordered for a group of 10 and one of the best parts of their online ordering system is that it shows photos of each item, which made it easy to know exactly what we were getting. We scheduled pickup for around 11:00am and when we arrived at the restaurant, we were able to park right in front with convenient street parking available. There is also a parking lot nearby if street parking isn't available. Since it's takeout only, the interior is very small, likely only enough space for two to three guests at a time, with no dine-in seating. We were greeted by a friendly staff member, showed our online order confirmation and our food was handed to us right away. Everything was neatly packed in boxes and I was really impressed by how securely the food was packaged. You could tell it was prepared and packed with care. I ordered the Majimega Bento, which allows you to choose up to three entrees along with a large serving of rice. I selected the deep fried shrimp, yakitori chicken, and salmon. Everything was made to order and the food was still warm when we ate. The flavors were very satisfying and felt authentic, and I could tell a lot of care went into not only the taste but also the presentation of each bento. This was my first time trying Kokoro Tei and overall I was really impressed with both the quality of the food and the level of service. I would definitely put this place near the top of my list for easy, reliable Japanese takeout whenever I'm in town. read more

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My newest go to place for Chicken Kaetsu curry, since Hokkaido Ramen closed shop Theirs is very good and flavorful, crispy chix yet tender inside, with a good amount of curry to dip your chix into. I've only gotten take out from here and honestly don't know if they have sit down and table service so can't speak to their ambiance. read more

I used to come to Kokorotei all the time for their healthy vegetable bento. I'm not in the area as much anymore, so I don't come here as often. When my parents picked this up for dinner, it was a nice treat! They had a daily special with shrimp and steak. It had a decent amount of food. The steak was a little tough but very flavorful. They have online ordering which made it convenient for pickup. This place has some of my favorite bentos! read more

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I had this bento at a seminar so can't speak to the service at the shop. The nori shrimp salmon bento was so good though! The salmon had crispy skin, which is hard to do in a bento that isn't eaten right away. It was so good. Perfectly salted and cooked. The shrimp katsu wasn't that crispy because it was in a bento (lol) but it was very flavorful and was a good size. The chikuwa was delicious. Perfectly fried and seasoned. All of this was on top of rice, nori, bonito, and sauce. There was also some veg and ginger. It all went perfectly together. The meal was very good. Much better than I expected, especially the salmon with crispy skin. I basically never eat the skin but this was so good. Highly recommend and I will be going to the store to get my salmon! Yum!! read more

Kokoro-Tei - Nori Shrimp Salmon Deluxe - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is a great place for bento, but their daily specials are also something to take advantage of! Particularly their omurice which I had the fortune of snagging (it seems to go pretty fast, already had the last 2 of the day at around 1045am). Their nori deluxe bento was also more than enough food with chicken karaage, chikuwa (fish cake), fried white fish, and salmon! They even have a vegetarian bento called "healthy veg" for any vegetarians in your party. It features an assortment of their veggie side dishes like simmered kabocha, okra, eggplant, etc. and hearty purple rice. Yum! I appreciate that they make it to order, so there is a very short wait, but it is fresh. There is nowhere to eat in, so take your bento to go. Service is very nice and authentic Japanese. Parking lot (shared with Teddy's and Little Cesars) has more than enough spaces. Would definitely come again. read more

Quick visit here to pick up dinner. Thank you Donna O. for the suggestion and ride! I ordered the strip steak bento with garlic sauce ($14.98) and mixed grain rice (add $1.50). The bento came with an ample amount tender slices of strip steak, a gobo/ carrot side dish, a pasta side dish and the garlic sauce. This was delicious! The tender slices of steak dipped in the garlic sauce were savory and ono! The multi grain rice is thick and filling. I could not finish this bento in one sitting. The pasta was herby and unexpected, but flavorful. Loved the gobo and carrots that had a mild taste. Overall Food: 5/5 stars Overall Service: 5/5 stars An adorable lady assisted us with our phone orders. Everything was prepared and ready for pick up. She was sweet and personable. Ambiance: 4/5 stars. Small store front. Clean counters. Somewhat cramped for four of us waiting inside. Pictures of menu items are on the wall or visit the website at: https://kokoroteihawaii.com/menu. I will be back. The only photo I have is the one from the website, as I forgot to take a picture before I started to eat it. read more

Kokoro-Tei - Strip steak bento. Photo taken from the website. I ordered this with the multigrain rice for an additional $1.50 charge. - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

On Beretania Street in the same strip as Little Caesar's and Teddy's, Kokoro-Tei is a small Japanese restaurant. There is a parking lot, which is a decent size, next to the strip of shops. The restaurant itself is small and simple. There is a counter you can walk up to and order but no seating inside for customers. The people who work are efficient with the orders, at least from what we have seen when we have been there. We usually get the demi hamburger bento, kabayaki, and sometimes a special if they are offering one. The hamburger bentos are so good. The hamburgers are small but flavorful. The sides are also yummy. The tamago is thick and sweet. The potato salad is refreshing. The macaroni side is my favorite of the sides though. It is a bit like a mac salad but lighter and with a bit less of an acidic flavor. The bento also comes with a few baby carrots, corn, and lettuce. The kabayaki is also yummy but we don't like the sides as much. I believe the sides are tamago and gobo with carrots. Not bad, but not as good as the hamburger bento sides. The hamburger bento is about $15 and the kabayaki is about $17. The price makes sense for the quality but feels a bit high for the quantity. All in all, if you're looking for a solid bento, this has been a great option for us! read more

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This has to be the best of best lunch bento place to come to. Food is amazingly good here , prices are astounding good too. Make sure you call ahead to make an order, there's no dine inn here only take out. Lots of different Japanese bento boxes to go. Very good service too. Even though it's no dine inn , you can tell this restaurant keeps everything clean spot less the moment you walk in. Great place to eat read more

Kokoro-Tei - Chicken donburi - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Kokorotei is our favorite go-to for super delicious Japanese bentos! I've never had a bad experience here. The food always comes to us hot and everything is placed so nicely in the bento box. My favorite one is the Nori Kara Salmon Deluxe. I've tried so many other different ones and never had one I didn't like. The ladies who work here are so friendly and great. They always get our order right and it's always ready when they say it will be. This has also become our staple meal when going on a trip and needing something to eat at the airport. Super filling and leaves us content. read more

Kokoro-Tei - Nori Kara Salmon Deluxe - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great Japanese bento option in the Moiliili area. They are located in the same bldg. complex as Teddys Burgers and Little Caesars Pizza. Their bentos are very good and tasty. I am partial to their curry offerings a nice, smooth creamy type of curry that goes well chicken katsu or breaded shrimp. The curry is given to you in a separate container so you can spread it on when you eat. They have an excellent selection of offerings you're bound to find something you would like to eat. Very friendly and efficient, you can order prior to coming down. No place to sit so it's strictly take out. Parking can be an issue during prime time meal time, but usually no problem. read more

Kokoro-Tei - Menu July 2015 - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I've never been to Kokoro-Tei, but I've enjoyed their bento on several occasions. Kokoro-Tei first opened their doors in Waikiki in 2009, but have since moved to their current Mo'ili'ili location in 2010. The menu is extensive and you can be sure your bento is made to order with premium ingredients at reasonable prices. In addition to nori bento and regular bento, they offer curry bowls, daily specials, and mega bento with two choices. Kokoro-Tei is a great option next time you need to feed a large group and you make your order conveniently online. Parking is available in the lot next to Teddy's Bigger Burgers. read more

Ordered takeout from here. They are so fast and efficient. The food is so affordable and they give a good amount for the price. I got the chicken karaage bento and the chicken was juicy and had a great flavor to it. I also enjoyed the sides. Parking: Small lot on the side of street parking. read more

Kokoro-Tei - Chicken karaage - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Mom babysat...then Dad babysat...baby needed lunch...i needed lunch...and baby needed dinner. Not sure why I bought 6 bentos knowing me and baby can't eat whole bentos! Got Ma one of the small NORI ones...those are always pretty good. Got Dad and his wife an OYAKO special...he said he ate party but so big he saved the other half for his wife. He really liked it. Gave me back the other bento. Got BURI VEG and also a STEAK VEG for me and baby to mix and max and share. She was not a fan of most of it. Not sure why...maybe just not hungry. I liked the steak...little tough but the sauce tasty. Buri was dry...overcooked. Got OYAKO for baby for dinner...she ate some. Hubs ate most since was too sweet for me. I just ate the chicken since that was a little dry for the hubs but didn't bother me. Last one for Dad that he gave me back was GINGER PORK + SALMON Combo. I cooked the pork wtih some broccoli...so good. And Hubs ate the Salmon...that was pretty good too. I like most of the sides and tsukemonos. But took another 3 meals to finish everything. So much food! Overall pretty good bentos. Good prices. Pretty big parking lot, so that makes it convenient. I'll go back... read more

I loved this small, mom & pop that creates authentic Japanese food. There are varying portion sizes and price options as well. This is a take and go model. We got the mochiko chicken and steak bento. Highly recommend. read more

Kokoro-Tei - Mochiko chicken - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We loved the bentos here! Very authentic and definitely delish and filling. There are so many bento choices, which made it difficult to decide on one! We called ahead and it's a good thing we did since they were already busy when we picked up our bentos 1/2 hour after they opened. It's a very tiny place and only enough room for a few to stand at the counter. We have bookmarked this spot for our go-to Bento place! read more

Fast friendly service everytime! The bentos are delicious and worth the price! It is take out only, buy parking is conveniently located in the adjacent lot or right in front. Perfect when you don't feel like cooking! read more

Kokoro-Tei is a popular go-to for large parties and business meetings--I can definitely see why. Each bento is affordable and HEFTY. I got the Nori Kara Deluxe, which comes with 5pc chicken, 2pc chikuwa, and 1pc fried fish. My favorite item was definitely the chikuwa, but even that was pretty standard. Unfortunately, even though there was a lot of chicken in the bento, each piece was INCREDIBLY DRY and difficult to eat. Overall, not my favorite bento catering, but will do the job in a pinch. I also appreciate the variations offered here. read more

Kokoro-Tei - Nori Kara Bento - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place is the perfect take-out for groups. In fact, I'd bet that's most of their business. You can order large quantities ahead of time, and then pick up at the counter. The food is always fresh, and a good value for what you get. They have so many bento choices, from healthy veggie, croquette, chicken, fish. And so many mix and match options. I actually love the saba, but I think thats a daily special, so it's not on the regular menu. read more

I'm so disappointed. I was gifted a lunch of my choice and chose the mega bento with salted buri, ginger pork and multi-grain rice. That's a hefty $23 plus tax. My first bite was a tiny bite of potato salad because the scoop is soooo tiny...I think it's a tablespoon. Omg, it was so vinegary tasting I spit it out! Then I smelled it... it was sour!!! Then I tried the Salted buri fish...dry as cardboard and thin, barely 1/2" thick and no flavor. Then I tried the tiny tablespoon of shiraae, it was good. Then I tried the ginger pork; I kept trying to find a tender piece then gave up after the 5th piece; it was all quite tough and not well seasoned. The tamago was good, the ginger was okay, the 3 pieces of rigatoni with pasta sauce on it were okay but the thinly sliced veggies with the 1 inch piece of string bean were all so stringy you couldn't swallow it. The multigrain rice was good and there was a nice portion, thus the extra star. I think I had a bento from here years ago and now I remember why I have not patronized this place again even though it's very close to my home. read more

Kokoro-Tei - Mega-bento = mega-disappointment - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

First time trying this place out. It is a little apot across of Moiliili Park next to Little Cesars and Teddy's Biger Burger. They do not have any indoor seating and only have take out. They have a table and register area just as you enter and there is only a small space inside for ordering. They have many bentos and a variety of plates available. I don't know why I have never been here. I love that they they have many fish options. The chicken karage is good along with the white fish and fish cake. This nori kara bento was just under $10 which is a pretty good deal. When we got there, there was no line but shortly after there was a line of about 4 people behind us. I would recommend this place! They are open from 10am-230pm and 4pm-6pm (Mon-Fri) and 10am-2pm on Saturdays. read more

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It's unfortunate this business has decided to go cashless. I'm probably in the minority because I rarely use a credit card, and never for fast food. I came here because it was something "different" in the area but quality was inconsistent. There were times where the food was really good but also times when it was disappointing. Although I will not be back because I don't want to use a credit card, I hope this decision doesn't cost them too much business. There are too many places going out of business or changing ownership resulting in changes to products delivered or service. read more

It was my go-to for a while and I was so thankful for the excellent food, affordable prices, and good people serving us well!!!

I love their bentos but they need to have the omelette rice more often! Every time I order it by phone they're sold out!

I was searching for bento places and came across Kokoro-Tei on Yelp. I couldn't believe the reasonable prices! That, combined with all the positive reviews of the food, had me heading over there to pick up a bento for dinner! Before I arrived, I placed my order online as I had read that there are often long lines during the peak lunch and dinner hours. I arrived 10 min prior to closing and my bento was ready! No other customers were there at the time. This is a take-out only place as of March 2023. They're located on S. Beretania St. near Teddy's Bigger Burgers. Ample parking is available in the back, or you may be lucky and find parking right in front on the street. I ordered the Nori Shrimp Salmon bento for $10.98. Yes, you read that price correctly. It came with 2 piece chikuwa, 2 piece fried shrimp and 1 piece salmon. I'm not a big fan of chikuwa, but the salmon and shrimp were delicious and the bento itself was a generous size, especially for the price! Service was friendly. They have a bell on a table in front and as soon as I rang it, a friendly lady appeared from the back and gave me my bento. I will definitely return in the future to try some of their other bentos! read more

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"Don't forget me. I just want you to know you're always in my heart." - Sailor Moon You're always in my heart! Wow I was blown away! Auntie gave me $20 to buy three bentos for lunch. For her, her daughter, and yours truly. Eh, Auntie's not good in math and she lives like it's 1979! Auntie! $20 will not buy you three authentic bentos in Honoruru! Eh, no worries I'll let her be and cover the rest. And no, I won't cut corners with the $5 bento place, as I owe it to my Kapuna to get only the best. And let me tell you about Kokoro-Tei! Perhaps the highest quality bentos for value and lot's of choices! All made to order, so none of that pre-packaged grab-go stuff! Kokoro-Tei is located in Mōiliili in the same complex as Teddy's if you need a landmark. Parking available in lot or street. I notice a small line to enter and I also notice most are seniors that probably know food better than anyone claiming to be a foodie on Yelp! The menus are posted both inside and outside so you can peruse before it's your turn. For me, I came down specially for the Tuesday Special: Salmon Teriyaki which includes Chikuwa fish cake tempura, potato salad, Tamagoyaki, Japanese rice, green salad, oh and did I mention Penni pasta :D $13.98 on Tuesday! I ordered the same for cousin as she loves Salmon and Auntie got the Nori Shrimpfood Salmon $10.98. All prices are reasonable for quality bentos received. So that's $13.98 + $13.98 + $10.98 = $38.94 + tax. So with Auntie's $20 and my $20 we got three Bentos! I waited as they prepared our Bentos and I noticed lots of phone orders. Don't expect fast food here, as once again orders are made-to-order. I wait outside with the other Obāsans and taxi drivers. All good as everyone seems to know the wait is worth it! After about ten-minutes the young lady comes running out with my order while bowing and thanking me like three times lol. All good but so Japanese to do so. Time to find a spot (takeout only) and enjoy! Oh my! The Salmon Teriyaki was life changing! Fish so moist with nice crisp skin! The sides were next level compared to other bento spots across the island! In the end, I can't wait to return to Kokoro-Tei! I really don't care even if Auntie gives me a dollar I'd still go and cover the rest. I have a too kind heart to say anything else. Dream on Auntie! I just need to figure out what I want next! Maybe the Katsu or Hambagu... read more

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Tasty bento ordered a day before. Ready a few minutes earlier than requested which was great. Tonkatsu, shrimp, fish breaded and extra katsu sauce over a bed of rice with big nori covering the rice. So nicely packed and ready to go! read more

I appreciate the options to be able to choose multigrain rice as an upgrade to white rice!

As tasty as any bento shops in Tokyo Hands-down, the best on Oahu. Very fresh so it takes a bit of time but def worth the wait read more

(22/25) speed writing reviews~ Kokoro-Tei doesn't look like much from the outside. I've driven past here numerous times but never thought to stop by because Teddy's Burgers would be the only reason for me to go to this little eating complex. Well recently I've been on a bento binge with my sister where we go out searching for Japanese bentos to enjoy for lunch. One day Kokoro-Tei populated on our search and we decided to give it a try. Wow, just wow. Freshly made bentos from Kokoro-Tei. They are NOT grab and go. You need to order and they make it fresh. They've got a wide selection of bentos and daily specials that they post month by month. I'm a fan of the nori kara or nori salmon bento. They are smaller and more petite, but very filling for me. My sister enjoys the deluxe version of the bentos as she can eat much more at one sitting than me. Overall, I really enjoy Kokoro-Tei bentos! You gotta check them out! read more

I have been to Kokomo-tei several times and every time I go, their bentos never disappoint. This last visit, I got the steak bento with the wafu sauce. Wait time wasn't too bad and the workers there are always so nice and friendly. The steak with the wafu sauce was absolutely delicious. It hit the spot for lunch. read more

Kokoro-Tei - mega bento - steak & salmon - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Great little bento shop that makes your food fresh upon ordering. Wait was about 15 minutes so call ahead or order online if you can. Great assortment of options and perfect to pickup on your way to or from the beach. There is no dining area, takeout only. The food was delicious!! read more

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Sent my husband to purchase lunch. He said it was made fresh. It was still warm when he got home. Good size portion, especially for the price. Very tasty. read more

Kokoro-Tei - Salmon, croquette, and chikuwa tempura - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I actually got this for takeout, because I had to take a call based on East Coast hours during my trip to Honolulu. I'm usually pretty guarded when it comes to getting takeout and hot foods, seeing as it usually takes forever. However, this was a back up on my first restaurant. Canceled my order 30 minutes in after making it. First of all my DoorDash driver was so nice, and he even called me to arrange for pick up and confirmed my order before handing it out the window. Second, she delivered it super fast so that the food was actually still quite warm upon arrival. This place wasn't too far, maybe about 10 minutes away, but he could've taken his time, and the food could've been sitting out for a little bit longer. I just got your standard tempura don bento with assorted fried chikaku and side dishes.: PROS: - Came warm and quick even with delivery. - Great quantity. I actually couldn't finish my bento. - Reheats well in the microwave. - Good assortment of side dishes paired with main dish. - The tempura shrimp was actually very very crispy. Same with the fish cake (chikaku). CONS: - Probably would taste even better if it was actually eaten in the restaurant. Not really a con. read more

Kokoro-Tei - Small assorted tempura bento - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Worst customer service you can expect. Rude as she can be. This is on 2/12 around 17:30. Steak was over cooked, salmon was dry. Ordered mixed grain rice and the lady repeated my order and charged us only to receive white rice. read more

On a non-descript strip of S.Beretania St. is a small bento shop. You might not even notice it's presence. Do yourself a favor and find it! Kokoro-tei has some of the most delicious rice boxes, bentos, I have had. And the prices are more than reasonable. One bento usually lasting two meals for me. My favorite and go-to bento is the nori shrimp, salmon deluxe bento. I may occasionally try other items yet always go back to this one. Also love all the side dishes available. Each meal is made to order so if you know what you want, best to call order in ahead of time. I usually call just before going down. Kokoro-Tei is located in the same building as Teddy's Bigger Burgers and right after the Japanese Cultural Center. There never seems to be an issue with parking, either in the metered parking on the street or in the parking lot at the end of the building. Do check hours of operation before going tho. Kokoro-tei runs on shorter hours than most! read more

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One of our favorite places for bento. Fast, convenient, very reasonable, perfectly prepared, beautifully presented and so yummy! Every bento is made to order. Everything will be hot and fresh. Tempura and Katsu will be crunchy. Highly recommended! Nori Kara Deluxe - This bento had so much chicken that the lid wouldn't stay on the bento box. Nori Shrimp Kara - Perfectly cooked and flavorful. Crispy shrimp katsu crunch. Not oily at all. Mega B Bento - The Wafu Hamburger Steak and Karaage Chicken combo was so flavorful and filling. read more

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If you're looking for a place to buy japanese bentos, Kokoro-tei is the place to go. It's a very small place which does takeout orders only. It's best to call in your order. Going there to order can sometimes take a while if they're busy. The bentos are made to order so you'll always have one that's freshly made. They have a big selection of bentos to choose from and their prices are very reasonable. They have their menu posted inside along with photos with some of their bentos. A takeout menu available on their website. If you click on the 'order now' link, you can see a photo of what each bento looks like. Don't forget to check out their daily special. One of the main things I love about their bentos is their side dishes which are very tasty. Their fried foods are never oily. There's a large parking lot which they share with Teddy's Bigger Burger and Caesar's Pizza or you can sometimes find free street parking right in front. read more

Kokoro-tei's monthly food specials is my guiding light of when I work inside an office. My co-worker puts it on his special tab on Chrome. That's how special Kokorotei is - it has a special favorite tab on Chrome and my schedule sometimes revolves around their monthly menu. The End. read more

First time here, parking is behind Teddy's Burger. Take out only, only 3-people can fit Inside. Everything is made to order fresh. Saw this review on YELP. I would say this place has the best Bento's for your money, I had the Giga Bento...ginger beef, fried chicken, shrimp tempura, pork Katsu and rice...2 lbs. of food, can feed two people. If you're in the South Beretania area, give this place a try, you're be surprised! Aloha, Derek read more

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Kokoro-Tei, we love you! My family and I live a few minutes away by car, and we often get their bentos for dinner. So far we haven't met a Kokoro-Tei bento that we didn't like. And their prices are reasonable. Husband's favorite is the Hamburger Steak with Wafu Sauce, Son always chooses the Tonkatsu or Teri Pork, and I rotate between the Chicken Karaage, Ginger Pork, Yakitori Chicken, any of the Nori Bentos, and my absolute favorite, Furikake Salmon. The grilled skin on that salmon is soooo ono. Whenever my vegetarian sister-in-law visits from the mainland, she gets the Healthy Vegetable Bento, which has an assortment of their wonderful Japanese-style side vegetable dishes (eggplant, lotus root, etc) served with mixed-grain rice. What makes Kokoro-Tei extra special besides their food and prices is the great customer service we always get from the friendly people behind the counter. They're courteous and efficient and keep the line of customers moving at peak times. Takeout only. Each order is made fresh, so you may want to phone in ahead or order online. Plenty of parking in the lot beside the building for Kokoro-Tei, Teddy's Burgers, and Little Caesar's customers. P.S. Their bentos are very popular at catered events around the island. read more